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Spatial Assemblages: Cantieri Meticci pilot experience
- Cantieri Meticci
- Nov 15, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 11
Target Group and Objective
The PRISCILA pilots are being implemented in each partner country. In Italy, Cantieri Meticci APS led and facilitated the pilots in Bologna. These workshops were designed for newly arrived asylum seekers and migrants, primarily from Ivory Coast, with diverse backgrounds, varying literacy levels, and limited proficiency in Italian or English. Our objective was to provide these participants with a supportive, creative environment where they could express personal experiences and cultural identities through art.
Challenges and Solutions
Many migrants face isolation, language barriers, and difficulty integrating into new communities. The PRISCILA project addresses these challenges by using art as a universal language, enabling participants to communicate and connect without relying solely on words. Through creative workshops, PRISCILA aims to foster belonging, resilience, and empowerment among participants, creating a bridge for cultural exchange and personal storytelling.
Methodologies and Steps
The Spatial Assemblages methodology was key, focusing on experiential learning, self-expression, and collective engagement. Sessions like Listening to Desires and Artistic Skills encouraged participants to reflect on what mattered to them, while Image Creation allowed them to visually depict their journeys and aspirations. This approach not only bypassed language barriers but also built a sense of shared purpose and identity within the group.
Three key activities that illustrated this approach were:
Recipe for a Happy Family The exercise allowed each participant to reflect on their personal "ingredients" for a happy family, such as love, trust, and support, integrating these symbols into their artwork. The process of creating these drawings sparked personal reflection and fostered a strong sense of pride and connection to family values, creating a tangible link between their cultural roots and their current experiences. Participants explored the concept of family by drawing symbols representing their values and experiences on t-shirts. They began by sketching kitchen objects such as bowls and plates, which symbolized the nurturing and shared moments that constitute a family.
Recipe for Mending What is Broken Participants selected symbols that represented unity, support, and connection, and the act of stitching became a powerful reminder of the healing process. This collective approach focused on healing and resilience, inviting participants to create personal symbols on fabric aprons using sewing as a metaphor for repairing broken relationships. It helped participants share their individual stories and explore how they could mend and strengthen their relationships within the group.
Recipe for a Mosaic City of Diversity Participants explored the theme of diversity by designing a “mosaic city” on fabric bags. Using pre-prepared hexagonal mosaic tiles, they selected images that resonated with them to form unique shapes, symbolizing how various cultures and backgrounds can come together to create a harmonious community. This activity celebrated cultural diversity and encouraged participants to reflect on the "glue" that binds communities together: shared values, experiences, and mutual respect.
Applications and Insights
The project demonstrated how art can support integration and foster community ties. This model could be adapted to similar contexts and professional settings, such as social work, community centers, or therapeutic arts, providing a framework to support diverse groups through creative expression. Adaptable to different disciplines, the methodology of using visual and tactile exercises could be particularly effective for youth work, counseling, and multicultural team-building.
Lessons Learned and Emotional Impact
Throughout the project, participants evolved from tentative newcomers to active storytellers. The tactile nature of creating art fostered confidence and pride. For facilitators, observing this transformation highlighted the power of art as a tool for empowerment, underscoring that meaningful change often arises from non-verbal communication and shared creative expression.
Unexpected Moments
A heartwarming surprise was the spontaneous sharing of traditional family recipes. During the final sessions, several participants brought in these recipes, connecting the themes of the project with their cultural heritage. This exchange deepened the bond within the group, revealing food and art as universal expressions of identity.
In conclusion, PRISCILA demonstrated that art can transcend language, fostering resilience and providing individuals with a voice. The project highlighted that while each story is unique, shared experiences and emotions can create powerful connections, promoting integration and empowerment within a supportive community.
Resume:
The most interactive content of the article focuses on the 'Recipe for a Happy Family' activity, where participants creatively express their family values through collage and drawing. This hands-on exercise fostered personal reflection and engagement. Another key moment was the 'Recipe for Mending What is Broken', where participants used sewing to symbolically heal personal experiences, representing their resilience. Additionally, a surprising moment occurred when participants shared their traditional family recipes, which deepened the group's sense of community. The project’s methodology, Spatial Assemblages, combined experiential learning and collective participation, allowing participants to express their stories visually and meaningfully.
Learn more about Cantieri Meticci APS https://www.cantierimeticci.it/